The death of Osama bin Laden – The big news this week is that, after 10 years, Osama bin Laden was found and killed by the US military. How should Christians respond to the death of bin Laden? Rejoice over justice being done, or mourn the fact that he is in hell? Several thinkers have posted articles helping us think through the issues: Denny Burk, Don Carson, Christopher Morgan, and Kevin DeYoung.

9 Marks eJournal: Church Membership – The latest 9 Marks eJournal is out. I heartily recommend not only the 9 Mark eJournal but all of 9 Marks’ ministry. This month’s eJournal includes resources such as “Is Church Membership Biblical?” “Twelve Reasons Why Membership Matters,” several book reviews, and more helpful articles. Check it out.

Growing persecution in China – For a while, the news out of China was good, but it seems that the Chinese government is reverting back to its pre-Olympics stance toward Christians and churches in China. Our brothers and sisters need our prayers.

What did Jesus’ death accomplish? – Matt Perman offers six things that the death of Christ accomplished: expiation, propitiation, reconciliation, redemption, defeat of the powers of darkness, and substitution. Click the link to find out more about each one.

The Church in China – Though it is not universal in the country, persecution of Christians is still real and ongoing in China. Mohler asks a great question in here: “How many of our American church members would disappear if officials went about threatening jobs and college placements?” To our great shame, it often takes far less to get us to disappear.

“A great debt! Who can pay?” – Melinda Penner relates a story told by late-19th/early-20th century preacher Harry Ironside about Czar Nicholas. It may or may not have actually happened, but its main point is not about what Nicholas did but about what God has done in Christ.

Holy Week – This is Holy Week. Justin Taylor is posting a harmony/chronology of the week, taken from the ESV Study Bible. Here is Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Check back at Justin’s site for the rest.

Daring to delight in Leviticus – On the heels of this past Sunday’s sermon, here we have Collin Hansen interviewing Jay Sklar, a professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary, about how we as Christians should approach and appreciate Leviticus.

Cynicism – Ah, cynicism! That respectable sin. David Paul Dorr helps us identify and fight cynicism. Part one; part two.

The dump-truck of merit – Has this ever happened to you: someone offers even a mild critique (or the possibility of one), and you launch into a defense of your personal righteousness before they even know what hit them? No listening to the other person. No learning. Just the dump-truck of personal merit dropping all your supposed good deeds into the middle of the conversation in the hopes that it will end it. If this has happened to you, read this.

The cross and criticism – Related to the previous link, we have this more in-depth article about how to take criticism in light of the cross. Here is a quote:

In light of God’s judgment and justification of the sinner in the cross of Christ, we can begin to discover how to deal with any and all criticism. By agreeing with God’s criticism of me in Christ’s cross, I can face any criticism man may lay against me. In other words, no one can criticize me more than the cross has. And the most devastating criticism turns out to be the finest mercy. If you thus know yourself as having been crucified with Christ, then you can respond to any criticism, even mistaken or hostile criticism, without bitterness, defensiveness, or blameshifting. Such responses typically exacerbate and intensify conflict, and lead to the rupture of relationships. You can learn to hear criticism as constructive and not condemnatory because God has justified you.

The Latest

What is our home? Where is our home?
Outline
Home: This Earthly Tent
Home: That Heavenly Tent
Be of Good Courage
Aim to Please Him
Persuade Others
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